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Falcons have chance for first Class B title

WEST FARGO – Enderlin-Maple Valley showed that smart base running and solid defense can do wonders. Those factors have given the Falcons a chance at the first ever North Dakota Class B state softball title.

The Falcons defense, including starting pitcher – sophomore Kaylee Johnson – gave up only four runs to defeat Grafton 25-4 in Friday’s state semifinals.

Johnson struck out eight batters and gave up just three hits during the win. The Falcons put up 18 hits of their own.

Grafton catcher Erica Sevigny and center fielder Nicole Christinson each tallied a base hit to give the Spoilers a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the first inning. The Falcons wasted no time getting those runs back.

Senior Krista Thielges, hit a two-run double that scored Cassandra Pautz and second baseman Abbie Tinjum. Megan Kasowski followed with a two-run double to put the Falcons up 8-3 by the end of the first inning. Kasowski finished with two hits and three RBIs.

Tinjum and Pautz each had two-run singles that set the score at 19-4 going into the fourth inning.

Tinjum and Thielges ended the day 3-for-5 and each drove in four runs. Tinjum also had three stolen bases. Pautz led the team with four hits and four RBIs.

“All we need to do is play our game,” Tinjum said. “Our Defense is pretty solid so hitting is what we need to work on.”

The Falcons committed only one error on defense.

The Falcons will face Central Cass today in the state championship game. Enderlin-Maple Valley beat the Squirrels in three previous meetings this season.

Going into today’s title game, Falcons head coach Neva Hamre has high hopes that her team can get the job done again.

“They’re just doing what they do,” Hamre said. “They hit the ball well, they run the bases well.”

“Defensively, we played really good today and if we’re aggressive and go out to hit the ball we’re going to be fine.”

WEST FARGO – Hankinson-Fairmount’s Teri Loll pitched a complete game to give up only 2 runs and strike out 14 batters to defeat Pembina County North 11-2 in a consolation semifinal softball game at the North Dakota Class B state tournament.

Pembina County North will play Kenmare-Bowebells-MLS for seventh place today at 10:00 a.m.